A CROP Hunger Walk will bring together several different denominations Sunday while raising funds to feed the hungry throughout the world, including here at home.

CROP stands for "Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty." Funds raised do go overseas, but also benefit local charities, such as the local Interfaith Emergency Services.

Five area churches have registered for the event, but more walkers are needed, said Debbie Bush, a walk coordinator and member of Fort King Presbyterian Church, one of the sponsoring organizations.

“We're trying to do this as a community, to get to know one another and work together for the cause,” Bush said. “Not only are we trying to help stop hunger, it's also about building relationships in the community, and that's what makes it so nice. Last year, we got to meet new people and their families. It's an intergenerational type of thing - youth, seniors, couples. We're trying to build relationships. And do missions.”

The walk will begin and end at First Christian Church. Other participating congregations include St. Matthews Lutheran, First Presbyterian and Temple Beth Shalom. The event will kick off with a brief worship service. Bottled water, donated by Silver Springs Bottled Water Co., will be available en route, and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion. Walkers will raise funds through sponsoring businesses, civic groups and individuals.

Last year, 75 walkers brought in $4,170, with 25 percent going to local charities and the balance to Church World Service, the founding organization, which started in 1946.

The first CROP Hunger Walk was held in October 1969 in Bismarck, ND, and encouraged midwest families to share their grain with the hungry in Europe and Asia following World War II. In subsequent years, walks multiplied throughout the nation. This year, 1,600 CROP Hunger Walks are expected to raise $3.5 million nationwide, with 25 percent going to local charities and the balance to the Church World Service headquarters for distribution throughout the world.

Interfaith Emergency Services will benefit from 25 percent of the Ocala walk. It comes at a very needy time, said Karla Grimsley, chief executive officer of the charity.

“Right now we're just struggling to have the staple items in the pantry, canned foods, dry goods, peanut butter and jelly, all those items that we try to give out to every family,” Grimsley said. “From the end of August through the holiday season, it's a real challenge to keep those items on the shelf. It seems like we get a little break in October. Then, in November and December, when we get a cold snap and the utility bills go up, we get slammed. Pretty much everything that comes in goes back out.”

Grimsley is organizing an Interfaith team for the walk. She said individuals can sign up with her or with any of the participating churches.

Ocala is among 35 communities that have CROP walks in Florida, said Amy Killgallon, field director for the Church World Service regional office in Deland.

“I'm really excited about this committee in Ocala,” Killgallon said. “What's neat for me is this little interdenominational group that is starting to meet and supporting each other. Debbie had pulled people of different churches together year-round. A lot of people say, 'Oh, you're so lucky. Your job is feeding people.' But, the best part of my job is working with volunteers who put so much into these events.”

Church World Service partners with other humanitarian groups to help in the development of 40 different countries, particularly those with the highest infant mortality rate, Killgallon said.

“We're trying to eradicate hunger on a global basis, and one of the ways we're trying to do that is to focus on children from birth to 5 years old. The CROP walk was actually the first charity walk in history. We said, 'We're walking because people around the world are walking in search of food and water.'”

<p><i>Correction: The acronym CROP stands for "Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty." An earlier version of this article was incorrect on that point.</i></p><p>A CROP Hunger Walk will bring together several different denominations Sunday while raising funds to feed the hungry throughout the world, including here at home.</p><p>CROP stands for "Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty." Funds raised do go overseas, but also benefit local charities, such as the local Interfaith Emergency Services.</p><p>Five area churches have registered for the event, but more walkers are needed, said Debbie Bush, a walk coordinator and member of Fort King Presbyterian Church, one of the sponsoring organizations.</p><p>“We're trying to do this as a community, to get to know one another and work together for the cause,” Bush said. “Not only are we trying to help stop hunger, it's also about building relationships in the community, and that's what makes it so nice. Last year, we got to meet new people and their families. It's an intergenerational type of thing - youth, seniors, couples. We're trying to build relationships. And do missions.”</p><p>The walk will begin and end at First Christian Church. Other participating congregations include St. Matthews Lutheran, First Presbyterian and Temple Beth Shalom. The event will kick off with a brief worship service. Bottled water, donated by Silver Springs Bottled Water Co., will be available en route, and light refreshments will be served at the conclusion. Walkers will raise funds through sponsoring businesses, civic groups and individuals.</p><p>Last year, 75 walkers brought in $4,170, with 25 percent going to local charities and the balance to Church World Service, the founding organization, which started in 1946.</p><p>The first CROP Hunger Walk was held in October 1969 in Bismarck, ND, and encouraged midwest families to share their grain with the hungry in Europe and Asia following World War II. In subsequent years, walks multiplied throughout the nation. This year, 1,600 CROP Hunger Walks are expected to raise $3.5 million nationwide, with 25 percent going to local charities and the balance to the Church World Service headquarters for distribution throughout the world.</p><p>Interfaith Emergency Services will benefit from 25 percent of the Ocala walk. It comes at a very needy time, said Karla Grimsley, chief executive officer of the charity.</p><p>“Right now we're just struggling to have the staple items in the pantry, canned foods, dry goods, peanut butter and jelly, all those items that we try to give out to every family,” Grimsley said. “From the end of August through the holiday season, it's a real challenge to keep those items on the shelf. It seems like we get a little break in October. Then, in November and December, when we get a cold snap and the utility bills go up, we get slammed. Pretty much everything that comes in goes back out.”</p><p>Grimsley is organizing an Interfaith team for the walk. She said individuals can sign up with her or with any of the participating churches.</p><p>Ocala is among 35 communities that have CROP walks in Florida, said Amy Killgallon, field director for the Church World Service regional office in Deland.</p><p>“I'm really excited about this committee in Ocala,” Killgallon said. “What's neat for me is this little interdenominational group that is starting to meet and supporting each other. Debbie had pulled people of different churches together year-round. A lot of people say, 'Oh, you're so lucky. Your job is feeding people.' But, the best part of my job is working with volunteers who put so much into these events.”</p><p>Church World Service partners with other humanitarian groups to help in the development of 40 different countries, particularly those with the highest infant mortality rate, Killgallon said.</p><p>“We're trying to eradicate hunger on a global basis, and one of the ways we're trying to do that is to focus on children from birth to 5 years old. The CROP walk was actually the first charity walk in history. We said, 'We're walking because people around the world are walking in search of food and water.'”</p>